Electromechanical recording and controlling machine



Dec'. ll, 1928. 1,694,631 l P. TROJANI ETAL ELECTROMECHANICAL RECORDING AND CONTROLLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sme?l l Filed Aug. 23, 1926 Dec. 11, 1928. 1,694,631

P. TRoJANl ET AL ELECTROMECHANICAL RECORDING AND CONTROLLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, v1926 3 Shee'Cs--Sheel 2 0%/ M47 MMA/571% ya.

Dec. l1, 1928. 1,694,631

P. TROJAN ET AL.

ELECTROMECHANICAL RECORDING AND CONTROLLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l identify ingly markedI in which the deed will bev Ire-` Patenteanec. 11, 192e.

UNITED STATES PATENT. .oFF1cE.

- PIETRO TR'oJ'ANI. AND coRItADINo nAscANIo, yor ROME, ITALY.

` ELECT'Roisin-1cIIANIcAI. RECORDING AND coNTRoLLl-Ne MACHINE,

i Application filed August 23, 192s, serial No. 131,094, and inl Italy July 3o, 192e.

The .object of theipresent'invention is to provide a machine arranged and constructed to record' automatically theindices of docu- -ments and the like and to automatically -and indicate the finding of a par- .tieular record made by the machine.

, The Amachine according to the invention avoids the long, dillicult, and often imper-y fect work of employees, which is now neces- 10 sary to catalogue and trace data and documents in public or private 'oficies such asin banks4 orfthe like, in connection ivithlists ofl lost or stolen drafts,`of clients or ofl l suitable keyboard, on a strip of paper or the like, by means of perforations, thedata of a document 'to be recorded, viz, the data which will be later used to identify the docu- Vment, and. other perforations representing other datal in connection with the'document corded in the name of John Doe. An index book is kept containing a list of names'relat- 35 ing to recorded documents among which is f written the name of John Doe with cer-tain..

symbols Awhich will be represented by a certain arrangement of the perforations in the recording machine. l

Certain keys or elements of the machine are. then operated to Aperforate on the paper strip the symbol representing the name John Doe. Other keys are operated producing perforations adjacent those r 'presenting the name, .and relating to a liber, lcorrespondcorded.

.At 'a subsequent period,when vit is desired to refer to the deed recorded by John Doe, only his name need be known. From the index 'or name book the key letters representing the'arrangement of perforations Vwhich stands for John Doe, may be ascertained.' lThe proper keys -of the recordand' having reference toa catalogue, journal,- 'Y protocol, and archive, a l1ber,'or the like. Forinstance, supposing a deed 1s to be re- Aing machine are then depressed as were used .1n recording the name John Doe. The machineis then set in motion and comes to a rest when the perforations previously made identify themselves with the positions of the said keys. By observing the paper strip, the operator will find adjacent the perforations, representingthe name John Doe, the other perforations .previously made referring to the liber. in which theA deed is recorded. These perforations for example, may be arranged in the order 1 dash 3. The back of the liber will be similarly designated. The machine has thus given information, identifying the liber in which the deed .'will bev found recorded.

Thus,vin general, when one wishes to ascertain whether a certain document has been registered by the machine, he repeats on the keyboard the data which identify it, and

-sets the machine in operation s'o as, to cause the paper strip which carries identifying data, previously recorded, to be unwound in the machine. If the document was recorded,- the machine will stop as soon as this record has been reached, and will give-a signal by means of a lamp, a bell or in any other appropriate way, and it will thuslbe evident that the respective document or the name ofthe 'respective person was .recorded on the strip. V\

In thedrawings, in which a practically operative disclosed,

Figure 1 represents 'diagrammatically a section in a vertical plane of the main device of the recording'v machine;

embodiment of the invention is 1 fFigure 2 is a practical perspective view v of. the ldevice/taken in section transversely of the plate with-which the paper strip cooperates.

Figure 3 i-s a detail in vertical section showing the supporting means for the bottom of the keys of the keyboard.

' Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view partlyA in section and partly in perspective showing the arrangement of the switch elements;

Figure 5vis a diagrammatic -view ofthe auxiliary punch for making a cancellation hole. Y

I Figure' is a diagrammatic View in vertical section showing means for automatically stopping the travel of the paper lstrip at the termination of a working period. of the machine as well as means for signalling a rent in a margin of the paper strip.

Figure '7 isa diagrammatic' view of the electro-mechanically controlled switch cir cuits.

Figure 8 `is a front view of the plate with which the paper strip cooperates, and should be read particularly in connection with Figure 6.

FigureI` 9 isa fragmentary view in vertical elevation showing the lneans for invariably .making a perforation. for each recording act of the machine, which perforations cooperate in performing the motor stopping function referred to in connection with Figure 6.

Fig. 10I is a front elevation of a fragment of the perforated strip, showing perforations 'for performing the several functions as herein described. w

Before referring in detail to the several figures it may be stated that since the data' for recording and identifying documents are generally composed of groups of numbers and letters, itis evident' that the machine.'

v must, as a rule', comprise a's manyunits'as there are numbers. and letters vto be registered.

These units -.will all vwork in the same manner, while.' their structure mightbe slightly varied according to whether'l one single keyboard is .to be used for all the characters, or one keyboard is to be used for the alphabet, and one keyboard for each group of 10 numbers.

In the drawings for thes'ake of clearness, only one unit relating to-a number is shown,

and the following Aspecification is given'only for the sakeof explaining the invention and the scope for which it is intended, it being understood that the invention'may be realized in many other ways without depart-4 ing from the limits and purposeof the invention. f

As shown in Figure 1, the device comprises a bank of keysO, 1, 2. 3, 4, 5 6,'7, 8, 9,

Carried by bars 0', 1', 2', 3", 4.', 5f. c', 7', s', 9 arranged to move longitudinally ofthe ,bars in appropriate guides. Thekeys are held in their normal position bymeans'of ().y ]`II,'2I` 3l- 4:,, 5.,/7 GII; 7', 8l7 9". and after being depressed they are locked in their -lower position by' locking noses 10 near the end of each bar'. Each nose,l for; example. at the lower end of the har 1', -Figure 1 'consists of a block which 1s secured to the' bar by a spring 11 normally urging the block against the rim 12 (see Figure 3) or a hole provided for the.

passaleiof the bar. These holes are made in a plate 13g Figures 1 and 3, which is secured to the traine of the machine.

Then a key is depressed the upper end ofthe respective block 10 engages below the edge of the rim 12 in the manner shown in by means of a'movable platev 14 arranged below the stationary plate 13 .and adapted to slide in gui-des 15, Figure 1, said plate 14 being provided with a plurality ofipins l 16' which through thefaction of a tension spring 17 secured to the plate 14, are normally held away from the lower ends of such blocks as may depressed. Mot-ion' may be imparted to the plate 14 against the action of thel spring 17 through a key 18 and bar 19 which connect with a bell crank lever 20 pi'voted at 21, the lower end of which bell crank lever ispivotallysecured to the plate 14. By de'- pressing the key 14, the bell crank lever 20 vshifts the plate 14 bringing the pins 16 into4 coactionfwith any ofthe blocks ,10 which may be interlocked with the respective -edges of the holes in the plate 13, releasing the said blocks' and causing the keys to riseto their n normal positions through the `urge of the' springs O, 1, etc., theends of? which underlie .the lower ends of the bars 0f, 1', etc..

Each bank of: keys is provided with an indicator to show'which keys have been de-' pressed. This indicator may be 'constructed and arranged to work in any suitable manner and particularlyfin the manner indicated injFigure' 1.

A pin 23 isprovided' on each ,keyl bar, projecting from the side thereof and bearis fulcrumed atone end as at 25, to the frame of thev machine. The lever 24 is .normally -held in contact with, the pins 23 by means of the spring26. The free end ofthe lever carries a rack 27 which is constantly in mesh with a pinion'28 to which is secured a seg-` ment-shaped indicator 29 whose curved rim 30 carriesa scale of'numbers from 0 to 9,.

identified with the keys inthe bank of keys.

`The indicator segment Zmay rotate about a 'ing on `the upper edge of a lever which, I

numbers on said yscale are brought, through .operation of said indicator, for observation.

Since the pins 23 of the Aseveral-bars ofy 4the bank of keys are at different :distances from the axis of rotation ofthe lever 24, it

is evident that when-the keys are depressed, the angular displacement of the lever'will vary according to which keyhas been de-' pressed. and the indicator therefore willv oscillate through `varying angles, bringing different .numbers into registry wlth the window 32 according towhich has been depressed.

The indicator may ofcourse operated by any other suitable mechanical device controlled by the downward movement of the keys.

For

of the keys 'each bank of keys thereis further their .axes of rotation a provided a member 33 adapted to slide in a Avertical direct-ion along guides 34 and 35 .more numerous according to whether it. is

necessary or convenient. If there -are four members it is possible to make the necessary combinations for the formation of the numbers from O to-9, while five members are sufiicient for the combinations necessary for the formation of the twenty-six letters of the,V

alphabet, and so on. v

Near the end of each key bar, is provided a comblike member 36, between the teeth of I which Alie the horizontal arms 33 of the members 33. The interstices between the teeth. have a varying Adepth according to which key they belong, and by llowering the keys it is thus possible to lower the members 33 one by one or in4 various groups accoi-ding to the arrangement and depth of the said interstices.

Let it be supposed that the -number 0 corresponds to the first member 33, 1l to the second, 2 to the third, 3 to the fourth, 4 to the group of the first and second numbers, 5 to the first and third, 6 to the first and fourth, 7 to the second and third,8 to the.

second and fourth, 9 to the third and fourth, and let it also be supposed that the downward movement of a key is accompanied by a downward movement of the membersy 33 in agreementy with the' above described ar-` curedl to one of the arms cfa bell crank le.

Ter 39 which is fulcrumed at 40 to the frame of the machine, the pin 38 being Vheld against 'the end 37 by a tension spring 41,

` In' front of the levers 39 and parallel to plate 42 is arranged having row's of `holes 42 and 44, each ,row comprising' a number of holes equal' to the entire number of the members il?? of the machinayThe holespare preferably. spaced apart at equal intervals, andl the holes of one'of these rows are arranged verf lows.

other row.

vtically above .the corresponding holes of the c The holes 43 receive slidable punches 48 l.

board. Adjacent the lower end of the bar A 54 is a shaft 52 on which is. mounted a lever 51 operated by a. lev'er l53 suitably connected to the bar- 54.-I The end of the arm 39 of thebell crzhik lever is ,normallyout of the path ofv movement of the lever 51, but 'by depression of a key and the corresponding rockin-g of the bell crank lever by means of the engagement of the member 33 of the f pinv 38, the said end 50 is brought into the path of movement of the lever. 'Then when the punching key55V is depressed, the bell crank-40 which had previously placed the punch in position of readiness, is rocked still) further by the leveru51 foreing the punch. through the papel" strip 45 which moves slidably against the plate 42, making .a perforation. This perforation registers on the rec-ord strip the .indications of the keys. When the punching key 5.5 has returnedinto its original position, or some other key is to be operated, the spool 47 is rotated through energizing of the circuit vof the motor'125 by a suitable key actuated switch, notshown, bringing a fresh portion of thekpaper strip into registry with the punch apertures in the y l plate V42 so that a new record can be made .on the paper strip.

The counter punches or dies are, formed by a. pipe 78 arranged near the paper strip on the oppositeside and provided with holes registering 'with the apertures 43, intofwhich the ends lof the punches extend; 4,

This pipe 78isl connected through apipe 79 to an aspirator 63 which will hereinafter be described. The, pipe 7 9 is widened out along a part of its length tov 'form a chamber 18. which contains lafilter screen 81. The

suction produced bythe aspirator draws all the small particles of lpaper cutout by the punches down into 4the chamber 80 fromv which they may be subsequently removed througha port 82. lVhen the key 55- is op'- erated to punch a` hole in the paper strip,

a valve 83 in the pipe- 79, to whichthe bar 54-is operatively connected opens, so` as'to permit the passage of air through the pipe `7 9, producing the vacuum in the chamber 8O andthe. pipe 78. r .i

The upper row of holes 44 is connected by means. -of pipes to an equal number of belof 4 for the numbers .and 1n grou is ot for' the letters 1n agreement with t ie groups T hesc bellows are arranwed in Grou s of the members 33. In Figure 1 a group of 4 bellows 56, 57, 58 and 59 is shown relating to banks of keys with numbers..

Each bellows communicates not only with one of the aforesaid pipes but also with a common pipe 60which in turn communicates with a collector pipe 61, the latter terminating at the sucking mouth 62 of a centrifugal or other aspirator 63, suitably driven as by an electric motor 64.

'The bellows 56 for example, is held ex panded by a metal spring 65, fastened at 66. The opposite end of the spring 65 bears on and is electrically connected with a small metal blade 67. When the bellows contracts, -the free end of the spring 65 moves away from the blade 67 and is brought to bear upon, and thus create an electric connection with a second blade 68.

l'1f-he vacuum'produced by the aspirator causes a contraction of the bellows whenthe holes 44 are closed, and the respective springs 65 will then vcontact electrically with the blades 68 while when any of the other of the holes 44 is open, the respective bellows will expand and the respective spring will electrically contact with the blade 67, the number and arrangement of the apertures opens to the bellows atA any one time, being dependent upon the arrangement of holes previously made in the record strip 45.

Each member 33 has a lug secured to its i horizontal arm v33', this lug being made of an electrically insulating material;

Figure 1 shows these-lugs 69, 70, 71 and 7 2, and Figure 4 shows the first mentioned of these lugs on an enlarged scale and in detail, said lugs each operating with one of the members 33 of the bank of keys shown in Figurefl.

Each lug carries at its end a metallic block 73, clearly shown in Figure 4 which as shown is L-shaped having the broader portion engaged by a brush 74 with which it is constantly in contact throughout its slight range -of vertical movement, and selectively in contact with other brushes 74 and 74,

. depending upon whether the lug 69 with the member 33 is in its elevated or depressed position.' The brush 74, it will be observed from Figure 1, is in circuit with a source of current. The brushes 74 and 74" are at the ends of alternative circuit branches the other ends of which terminate in the blades 68 and 67 there being a number of pairs 4`of these circuit branches as is shown in Figure 1, and `more clearlyin the diagrammatic showing of Figure 7. These branches are connected in series .and the circuit is made or broken by the reversal in the position of any one of the brushes 74', 74 or any one of the blades 68 or 67 from one of its contacting positions to the other.

As has been indicated in the previous description, when the aspirator is working,

all of the springs are pulled downward by the contraction of the bellows upon which they are mounted, thus contacting with the plates 68; if the hole corresponding to the bellows 56 is then opened byregistering with an aperturein the paper strip, andat the same time the lug 69 is lowered, the current will pass from the brush 74fto the plate 67 and thustothe spring 65.

After the keys corresponding to the data which are to be controlled, have` .been dcpressed, the spools carrying the record strip are set in motion and the aspirator is made to work. The record strip passes over the holes 44 and if the depressed keys coincide exactly with a record on the paper strip, the bellows corresponding to the lugs which have been depressed by the depression of the keys will be collapsed by the passage of corresponding apertures in the paper strip over the holes controlling said bellows so that the electric circuit is closed permitting the current to act through the wire 83" on an electromagnet 75, the armature 76 of .which carries the indicator which is thereby moved through an appropriate angularity corresponding to the position of the depressed keys. The indicator may be observed through the window 77, and the data which it is desired to ascertain maybe read directly from the paper strip through the window 200.

At the same time, the circuit of the motor 64 is broken through energization of the relay 64', the motor and aspirator driven thereby being thus stopped temporarily while the record on the paper strip remains coincident with the depressed keys.

In the event that a record on the paper strip is to be cancelled, it is sufficient to punch an additional hole'in the strip adjacent the record to be cancelled. In this way, even in case the keys which have been depressed coincide with a record on the strip, the electric circuit controlling the aspirator and the signal operating electro- III) magnet will remain open on account of the cancellation hole which causes the corresponding bellows to operate thus opening the switch contacts at that particular bellows without any corresponding circuit closing movement on thel part of the lugs 69, 70, etc.

The arrangement for punching a cancellation hole is shown in Figure 5 and comprises an additional bellows switch 111 which so1enoid 113 which controls a punch 114 and an interrupter key 115 which normally former 107. In this circuit is inserted' a maintains. the circuit open. 'The punch 114 Y:serves to make a hole in the paper strip in the peripheral plate vthe machine produces the desired signal and the paper holding spools come to a standstill. ln this way when the electric circuit is closed the transformer .107 will be energized, and when the key 115 is depressed the Solenoid 113 will cause the punch 114 to act so as to produce an additional hole on .the paper strip in correspondence with the registration to be cancelled. This hole will cause the bellows 111 to be contracted, and its electrical contacts will be separated so that theI circuit 110 will he interrupted.

After having thus produced the additional hole in correspondence withthe registration tobe cancelled, each time such registration passes in front of the plate the bellows 111 will maintain the circuit interrupted, no signal will be given and the machine will continue its movement. Figure 6 shows diagrammatically electric circuits employed in the above described machine and in connection With various' auxiliary devices intended to complete the working of t-he machine. I

Means are provided for stopping the motion of the paper strip when any unusual interval elapses between the passage of suc- -cessive records on the strip. Thus, the paper strip automatically comes to rest when the machine is disused for a few moments.

To effect this, each time a record is made by perforating the strip, an additional hole is made in the strip by the means of a punch lwhich advances every time the perforation key is, operated. To effect this function the plate 42 against which the paper strip slides is provided with an aperture 117', which communicates with the pipe 84 or a v bellows 85, see Figure 6. lThis bellows communicates with a pipe 86 which in turn is connected to the aspirator. The bellows 85 normally tends to remain expanded under the action of suitable means such as a counterweight 85. ThisI bellows carries a contact 87 permanently electrically connected to a wire of the main line 88. In operative 4proximity to the contact 87 is a fixed contact 89 engaged by the contact 87 when the bellows 85 is collapsed. The contact 89 is electrically connected to the opposite side of the main line 88 through a solenoid 90 and contacts 91 and 91. A valve 86 which in the present instance has the form of a butterliy valve may be positioned to regulate the Vrate of exhaustion of air from the belf lows 85, and thus to control the speed of its movement. When the contacts 87 and 89 comeytogether, that is to say, when the bellows 85 has collapsed', the solenoid 90 is traversed by electric current which causes it to act upon the armature 92 which, being drawn upward, produces a rotation of the crank lever 93 of its fulcrum 94 so as to disengage it from the rod 95 the lower angular end of which it normally engages. When the rod 95 is thus set free, it is drawn upward through the action of the spring 96 so that it moves in the direction shown by the arrow 97, interrupting the circuit of the solenoid 90 by raising the contacts 91. At the same time the rod 95 acts mechanically to break the driving connection of the motor which rotates the spool 47 .upon which the paper strip is wound. Simple mechanism for performing this function is shown, the motor 125 being mounted upon one end of an oscillating frame 126, the opposite end of which has a friction drive Wheel 127 engaging the spool 47 and being belted to the motor. The operation of the motor is also stopped by this circuit opening movement, the disengagement of the friction drive being provided for the purpose of instantly stopping the movement of the paper Astrip notwithstanding anypossible inertia rotation of the motor after its current supply has been cut olf. This automatic strip stopping arrangement Works in the following way. When the spool carrying the paper strip, and the aspirator, are at work, the bellows 85 tends to collapse .just as long .as the pipe 84 is closed by the paper strip. But as the successive records on the. strip are all accompanied by an additional perforation which during the rotation of the spool passes in front of the apertures 117 the bellows 85 will be open to atmosphere every single time a record passes the aperture 117 so that the bellows doespnot have a chance to collapse, its pressure being continually renewed.

The Valve 86 may be so adjusted as to bring about this result so that the interval between two successive records is not Sulli- 'cient to permit the bellows 85 to collapse.

Consequently, while records are passing the aperture 117, the contacts 87v and 89 will not close and the solenoid circuit remains open so that the rotation of the motor and paper strip continues.

Butl as soon as the records are finished, no more of the holes in the paper strip pass before the aperture 117, so that air is no longer supplied to the bellows 85, which under the iniuence of the vacuum of the aspirator collapses, brings the contacts 87 and 89 together, operating .the solenoid, stopping the motor 125 and disengagmgits friction. drive from the prper carrying spool.

The additional ypunching which accompanies each record and which coacts with the aperture 117 is produced in`the following Below the aperture 117 butin longitudi tional arm 51'..

Unlikethe levers 39, the ends 50 ot' which are normally beyond the pat-li of en agement of the arm 51 and only brought into said path by a preliminary setting movement produced by the depression of the keys o the keyboard, the bell crank 39 is always in thepath of movement of the arm 51', the latter 'being actuated by the key 55and bar 54 which vis in common with the record punching bell crank levers. Consequently, when v the key 55 is depressed the arm 51 invariably oscillates the bell crank lever 39" so as to actuate the punch 117. Thus this punching is invariably made in contradi'stinction to the actuation of the normal record forming punches which are opera-ted by a bar 54 and keyl 55 only when the.. bell cranks 39 have been preliminarily set into operative relation to the arms 51.

It sometimes happens that through accident or long use a rent appears in one 'orthe other of the sides of the paper strip. This should be mended at once or the paper strip will tear clear across, `rendering Ithe entire device inoperative. In order to .signal a rent in eitheror both borders of the record strip there is provided an additional bellows 98, which is connectedto an electric signalling circuit comprising a signalling 4device 99- and the secondary of a't-ransformer 100 the primary of which is connected across the main line'88. V

The bellows l98 .communicates through a pipe 981 with the aspirator, and through a ranched pipevwith two special apertures 116 and 116 formed inthe plate 42 adjacent,the opposite borders of the paper strip. So long as the paper strip 4is sound the apertures 1-16and 116. remain permanentlyv closed so that the bellows 98 remains nor- 'mally collapsed through the continuous evacuation of the'aspirator.

0 l With this position the electric contacts 99 and `100. re-

e mainapart keeping the )signal circuit open and the'signal inactive but should areut a pear in eithe'rborde of the paper 'stri p,

air will beled intol the bellows 98perm1tting the saine to expand and closing the contacts thus energizing thev indicator throlighl ree-1,631

induced` energy provided by the' transformer.

Itis apparent-that while'a practical de' I vice has been disclosed in the above specification taken in connection with the drawiiigs yet at the same time it is to be understood that numerous alterations, changes or substitutions may be made in the various elements as shown, Without departing from the spiritof the invention.

lVliat we claim is:

l. An electro-mechanical machine for re cording and identifying documents through perforated symbols on a registration strip,

comprising a circuit provided in a, plurality of places seriallyelocated with respect to said circuit with pairs of parallellimbs forming alternative current paths, two groups of invdependently movableswitch elements con-- nected to the circuit terminals adjacent the ends of said pairs,`adapted to make contact with one or the other of said limbs, to close said circuit when both switch elements associated with a pair of limbs are in, contact with the same limb, a plurality of punches for perforating said` registration strip, a key board having keys'selectively mani ulable to set certain switch elements o one group in their operative position, and simultaneously to set corresponding punches in. preliminary position, means'- for actuating such punches -as are in preliminary position,

and means selectively responsive to perforation -combinationson said strip for setting switch `elements of thesecond group which correspond with the set switch\elements of the lfirst group, into circuit-closingrelation.

2. An electro-mechanical machine for recording and identifying documents through perforated symbols on a registration strip, comprising a circuit .provided'in a plurality .of-places serially located with respect to said circuit with pairs of parallel limbs formingalternative current, paths, two

groupsof independently movable switch elements connected'y to the circuit terminals adjacent the ends of said pairs', adapted to makecontact with-one or the-other of said limbs, to close said circuit .when both switch `elements associated With-.a pairof limbs are in contact with the same limb, a pluralityl of punches for 'perforatingy said registration strip,- a keyboard having keys selectively' manipulable to set certain' switchelements jof one group in their `operative position, and ,si- 'multaneously 'to set corresponding punches in preliminary position, means for actuating such punchesas are intlie preliminary position, and a plurality of. bellows', to the move- 1ments of which the switch elements of the second! group are responsive, said bellows having pipes in' operativeproximity to `said registration strip, said bellows. being fse- 'lectivelyffresponsive .to the venting ac'zt'ionf(v i permitted by the registration of certain perforation combinations on said strip with the pipes of said bellows, for setting switch elements of the second group which correspondy with the set switch elements of the first group, into circuit-closing position.

3. An electro-mechanical machine for recording and identifying documents through perforated symbols on a registration strip, comprising a'circuit provided in a plurality of places seriallylocated with respect to` said circuit, with pairs ,of parallel limbs forming alternative ,v current paths, two groups of independently movable switch elements connected to the circuit termi-n nals adjacent the ends of said "pairs, adapted to make contact with one or the other of said limbs, to close said circuit when both switch el'ementsfassociated with a ,pa-ir of limbs are in contact wththe same limb, a plurality' of punches for perforating l said registration strip', a key board having keys selectively manipulable to set certain switch elements of one group in their operative position, and simultaneously to .set cor! Y responding punches in preliminaryposition,

means for actuating such punches as are in the preliminary position, and a plurality of bellows to the movements of which the switch elementsfof the second group are responsive, a blower with which said bellows-- a're in communication, said bellows having pipes in operative proximity to said registration strip, said bellows beingselectively'- responsive to the venting actionpermitted by the registration of lcertain. perforation combinations` on said strip with the pipes of said bellows, for setting switch elements of the second group which correspond with vthe set switch elements of the first group, in-

- to circuit-closing position.

- 4.' An electro-mechanical machine for re-.

' cording-and identifying documents-through of places serially locatedwith respect toc forming perforatedl symbols on a registrationl'strip, comprisinga circuit provided in a plurality said c'ir'cuit'with pairs of parallel limbs alternative current paths, ,two groups 'of independently movable switch elements connected tothe'cii'cuitterminals adjacent th'e endsof said pairs, adapted tov -make contact with one or the other of said limbs, to close s'aid'crcuit when both switch elements associated Iwith a. pair of limbs lare in contactfwith the same linib, a plurality of punchesf for perforating said registration strip, a' key board having keys selectively manipulable to set certain 'switch elements of 011e group in their operative position, and

simultaneously to set 'corresponding punches i in preliminaryposition, means for actuating such punches as are in the preliminary position, anda plurality of bellows to the movements of which the switch elements of the second group are responsive, springs for said bellows, normallybiasing them into an expanded position, an aspirator with which said bellows are in communication, said bellows having pipes in operative proximity to saidl registration strip and. occluded by l5.' An electro-mechanical machine for recording' and identifying documentsA through perforated symbols on a registration strip, comprising a circuit provi-ded in a plurality of Jplaces seriallylocated with respect to said circuit with pairs of parallel limbs forming alternative 'current paths, two groups of independently movable switch elements connected tothe circuit terminals fad.-

jacent the ends of said pairs, adapted to makeco'ntact with one or the other of said limbs, to' close said 4 circuitsV when both switch elements associated with ajpair .of

limbs are incontact-with the 'same' limb, a` plurality of punches v,for perforating saidl registration strip, a 4`plnralityy of, common means forsettingJ switch elements of one group, with-which said means are associated,-

in their operative position, and simultaneously to set corresponding punches in preliminar-y position, means for actuating suoli punches as arc in the preliminary position, a

key board having keys selectively manipulable to actuate said means, and means selectively responsive to perforation combinationslon said strip for settingswitch ele-` ments of the second group which correspond with the set i switch elements 'of the first group, into ,circuit-'closing relation. J A

G. AAn electro-mechanical machine forrecording and identifying documents through of places serially located with respect 'to said circuit with pairs of parallel limbsforming alternative current paths, 'two groups of independently movable switch. elements connected lto lthe circuit terminals adjacent the ends of said pairs, adapted to make con-- tact with one or the' other. of said limbs, tov

close said lcircuit when both switch elements associated with a' pair of limbs are in contact withf the same' limb, a plurality 4of punches for perforating-l said registration 'perforated symbols on a registration strip, comprisinga circuit provided in a pluralityl strip, a plurality of common means -for set-` f ting switch elements of one group, with whichsaid means are associated, in their y.operative position, and simultaneously to set lcorresponding punches in preliminary ments of the lposition position, means for actuating such punches as are inthe. preliminary position, a key board having keys selectively manipulable to actuate said means, and a plurality of bel-y 5 lows, to the -moveiiient's ofwhich the switch -elementso the second group are responsive, said bellows having pipesinoperative proximity to said registration str1p,said bellows being selectively responsive to'the 'ventl0 ing action permitted by theregistration of certain .perforation combinations on said strip with the pipes of said bellows, for setting switch elements of the seco-iid group which correspond with the .set switch elefirstgroup, into circuit-closing comprising a circuit provided in a plurality ofplaces serially located with respect to said'circuit' witth pairs of parallel limbs forming alternative current paths, two groups of independentlyp movable switch elements connectedl liminary position, means for actuating such punches as are in the preliminary position, means selectively responsivev to perforation combinations' on said strip for setting switch elements of thev second group which correspond with the set switch elements of the first group, in to circuit-closing relation, and

a cancellation device including an additional punch, means for actuating said punch at will for' putting an additional perforation in said registration strip beside any s vmbol which it is desired -to cancel, and a bellows having la switch element in circuit-breaking relation 'to said circuit, responsive to airpressure through said additional perforation, tobreak said circuit' and prevent the indication by said device of identification` of the symbol. 9. An electro-mechanical machine for recording and identifying documents through perforated symbols on a'iegistration strip.-

comprising a'circuit provided ina plurality of placesserially located with respect to said circuit with pairs of' parallel limbs forming alternative. currentpaths, groups of inde- .35 and simultaneously to set corresponding 40, elements of said first pendently movable switch elements connected -to'the circuit terminals adjacent the ends of said pairs, adapted to make contact with one or the other of said limbs` to close said circuit when both switchelements associated with a pair oflimbs are in contact with the same limb,l a plurality of punches for perforatiiig said registration strip, a key hoard lhaving 'keys selectively manipulable to' set certain switch elements of one group in their :operative position, and simultaneously to set corresponding punches iniactuatable position, means selectively responsive to perl A foration combinations on said strip for setting switch elements of the second group which correspond -with thefset switch elements of the ii'rst group, into circuit-closing re1ation,and a stripstopping device i uding a slow acting bellows having a 'switch element arranged as a circuit breaker in the motor circuit of said strip, said bellows being connected to said aspirator and having 'a pipe adapted to communica-te with a peroration in each symbol, said bellows becoming fullycollapsed to break the motor circuit -when\ :'occluded by the imperforate to the circuit terminals adjacent the ends of said airs, adapted -to make conta-ct with. Aone or t e other of said limbs,to'close said circuit when" both switch elements associated with a pair of limbs are in contact with 'the same limb,- a vplurality of punches for perforatin'g said registration strip, a plurality of common means for setting switch elements of one group, with which saidmeans are associated, in their operative position',

" punches in preliminary position, means for actuating such punches as arein the preliminary position, lugs in fixed relation to said means and movable ytherewith,'the switch group being carried by said lugs. v i

S. An electro-mechanical machine for recordingand identifying documents through perforated symbols on a registration strip,' -comprising a lcircuit provided in a plurality of places serially. located wit-hrespect tox said circuit with pairs of parallel limbs forming alternative current paths, two groups of inv .dependently movable switch elements connected to the circuit .terminals adjacent the ends of said pairs, adapted to make contact part ofsaid strip-fora period o f time relawith one or theother of said limbs, t o close tively longer than the riod of time between -sa-id circuit' when both switch elements assothe passage of successive s mbols. a p ciated with apair of limbs are vin ,contact In testimony whereof have lsigned `at with the'vsame limb, a plnral'ty of punches Romethis 4th day of August, 1926.

for perforating said registrat on strip, a key PIETRO TROJANI. lboard 'having keys selectively manipulable to set certainswitch elements of one group 1n their operative position, and simultaneously to setI corresponding punches in pre- In testimony whereof I `have signed at Rome this 8th da of August, 1926.-

- "C QR -ADINO DASCANIO. 

